How to Draw Realistic Textures in Pencil

Pencil artists have developed a number of techniques that can be used to give their pencil sketches texture. Using these techniques, a pencil sketch can be brought to life with different textures and shading, giving the drawing depth and realistic detail. Depending upon the effect you're after, one technique or several can be used simultaneously in the same drawing. Some of these techniques take patient practice, while others require only an eye for detail.

Things You'll Need

Pencil

Eraser

Sketch

Draw a series of lines crossing over one another. If you have a sketch of a person, try this technique on the hair or clothing. This is called cross hatching. As you draw these lines over an area, making sure to cross each line over the previous, you will begin to see a texture develop that works well for cloth. hair or animal fur.

Draw a combination of short lines and dots over an area. This technique will create a rough texture in you drawing. It takes patience and time to fill in a large area. If you want to create the effect of stubble or a roughness to stone, this texture technique works well. Create the dots by tapping your pencil against your paper, throwing an occasional brush of your pencil in to create the lines.

Shade your drawing with side to side strokes of your pencil. Allow the shading lines to overlap as you color. This is a technique you can use on animals, human hair and even to give texture to skin. This technique is often combined with finger or eraser blending to create the appearance of a smooth surface. Rub the tip of your finger over the shading to blend the hard lines together. This is useful for creating a metallic texture.

Sketch either swirls or wavy lines on your paper until they become dense and begin to form textured hair appearance. Don't use the two of these techniques together. Both are used in similar circumstances, but used together, they tend to cancel one another out.